Publications of Richard King

Note: The following printer, bookseller, or publisher lists are works in progress. They are generated from title page imprints and may reproduce false and misleading attributions or contain errors.

What does "printed by" mean? How to read the roles ascribed to people in the imprints.

In terms of the book trades, the lists below are sorted into up to four groups where: the person is designated in the imprint as having a single role:

  1. "printed by x"; or
  2. "sold by x"; or
  3. "printed for x" or "published by x"; or

as having multiple roles in combination (which suggests a likelihood that the person is a trade publisher):

  1. "printed and sold by x"; "printed for and sold by x"; or "printed by and for x" and so on.

Printers (owners of the type and printing presses, and possibly owners of the copyright) may be identified by the words printed by, but printed by does not universally designate a person who is a printer by trade. Booksellers may be identified by the words sold by, but sold by encompasses a number of roles. Booksellers or individuals who owned the copyright are generally identified by the words printed for, but nothing should be concluded in this regard without further evidence, especially since "printed for" could signify that the named person was a distributor rather than a copyright holder. Trade publishers, who distributed books and pamphlets but did not own the copyright or employ a printer—and were not printers themselves—might be identified by the words printed and sold by. Furthermore, works from this period often display false imprints, whether to evade copyright restrictions, to conceal the name of the copyright holders, or to dupe unwitting customers. Ultimately, one must proceed with caution in using the following lists: designations in the imprints may not reliably reflect the actual trades or roles of the people named, and the formulas used in imprints do not consistently mean the same thing.

David Foxon discussed the "meaning of the imprint" in his Lyell Lectures delivered at Oxford in March 1976, with particular attention to "publishers" in the eighteenth-century context:

The fullest form of an imprint is one which names three people, or groups of people:
     London: printed by X (the printer), for Y (the bookseller who owned the copyright), and sold by Z.
In the eighteenth century the printer's name is rarely given, at least in works printed in London, and the form is more commonly:
     London: printed for Y, and sold by Z.
Very often in this period, and particularly for pamphlets, it is further abbreviated to:
     London: printed and sold by Z.
It is this last form which is my present concern. Z is usually what the eighteenth century called 'a publisher', or one who distributes books and pamphlets without having any other responsibility—he does not own the copyright or employ a printer, or even know the author.

D. F. McKenzie coined the term "trade publisher" for these publishers in his Sandars Lectures, also in 1976, on the grounds that their principal role was to publish on behalf of other members of the book trade (Treadwell 100).

Michael Treadwell cautions that "In this period the imprint 'London: Printed and sold by A.B.' normally means 'Printed at London, and sold by A.B.' and must not be taken to mean that A.B. is a printer in the absence of other evidence." Further, "The imprint 'published by' occurs only rarely in Wing and is almost always associated with the name of a trade publisher" (104). While there are exceptions to the rule, it is "certain," he explains, "that anyone who made a speciality of distributing works for others will show a far higher proportion than normal of imprints in one of the 'sold by' forms" (116), which appear in the imprint as "sold by," "printed and sold by," or "published by" (104). Treadwell gives Walter Kettilby as an example of "a fairly typical copyright-owning bookseller" (106)—his role is almost always designated by the phrase "printed for" on imprints.

A final caution: publisher is a word that should be used with some deliberation. Samuel Johnson defines it simply as "One who puts out a book into the world," but "published by" rarely appears on the imprint until later in the eighteenth century, and then primarily associated with newspapers and pamphlets. Treadwell observes that John Dunton names only five publishers among the 200 binders and booksellers in his autobiographical Life and Errors (1705) wherein he undertakes "to draw the Character of the most Eminent [Stationers] in the Three Kingdoms" (100). Treadwell also remarks, however, that "in law, anyone who offered a work for sale 'published' it. In this sense every work had one or more 'publishers', and every bookseller, mercury, and hawker was a 'publisher'" (114).

See:

  • Terry Belanger, "From Bookseller to Publisher: Changes in the London Book Trade, 1750–1850," in Book Selling and Book Buying. Aspects of the Nineteenth-Century British and North American Book Trade, ed. Richard G. Landon (Chicago: American Library Association, 1978).
  • Bricker, Andrew Benjamin. "Who was 'A. Moore'? The Attribution of Eighteenth-Century Publications with False and Misleading Imprints," in The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America 110.2 (2016).
  • John Dunton, The Life and Errors of John Dunton (London: Printed for S. Malthus, 1705).
  • John Feather, "The Commerce of Letters: The Study of the Eighteenth-Century Book Trade," Eighteenth-Century Studies 17 (1984).
  • David Foxon, Pope and the Early Eighteenth-Century Book Trade, ed. James McLaverty (Oxford University Press, 1991).
  • Samuel Johnson, Dictionary of the English Language, (printed for J. and P. Knapton; T. and T. Longman; C. Hitch and L. Hawes; A. Millar; and R. and J. Dodsley, 1755).
  • D.F. McKenzie, The London Book Trade in the Later Seventeenth Century (Sandars lectures in bibliography, 1977).
  • Michael Treadwell, "London Trade Publishers 1675–1750," The Library sixth series, vol. 4, no. 2 (1982).

Sold by Richard King

  • The choice: being a collection Of Two Hundred and Fifty Celebrated Songs. London: printed by J. Watson, over-against Hungerford-Market in the Strand, and sold by R. King at the Prince's Arms, and T. Astley at the Rose, in St. Paul's Church-Yard; and by R. Willock [at] Sir Isaac Newton's Head in Cornhill, 1729. ESTC No. T59140. Grub Street ID 285162.

Printed for Richard King

  • Bulkeley, John. The last-day. A poem, in XII. books. By the late J. Bulkeley, ... London: printed for J. Peele, at Lock’s-Head, between the Temple-Gates; R. King, at the Prince’s-Arms; C. Rivington, at the Bible and Crown, in St. Paul’s Church-Yard; and W. Chetwood, at Cato’s-Head, Russel-Street, Covent-Garden, M.DCC.XX. [1720]. ESTC No. T155008. Grub Street ID 198912.
  • Aglionby, William. Choice observations upon the art of painting. Together with Vasari's lives of the most eminent painters, from Cimabue to the time of Raphael and Michael Angelo. With an explanation of the difficult terms. London: printed for R. King, at the Prince's-Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard, MDCCXIX. [1719]. ESTC No. T88534. Grub Street ID 308495.
  • Roots, Richard. The Trinity in unity vindicated, and the following questions answered. I. Which was the highest exaltation of the humanity of Jesus Christ, ... Together with an ode upon the creation, ... By Richard Roots, ... London: Printed for Richard King, at the Prince’s Arms in St. Paul’s Church-Yard, 1719. ESTC No. T51728. Grub Street ID 278945.
  • Brett, Thomas. A farther proof of the necessity of tradition, to explain and interpret the Holy Scriptures. In answer to a book, entitl'd, No just grounds for introducing the new Communion Office, &c. By Thomas Brett, LL.D. London: printed for Rich. King, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard, M.DCC.XX. [1720]. ESTC No. T104171. Grub Street ID 157725.
  • Brett, Thomas. A discourse concerning the necessity of discerning the Lord's body in the Holy Communion. With a preface, giving an account of the erroneous opinions of the papists, Lutherans, and Calvinists, upon this subject. By Thomas Brett, L.L.D. London: printed for Richard King, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard, MDCCXX. [1720]. ESTC No. T31935. Grub Street ID 262689.
  • Brett, Thomas. A collection of the principal liturgies, used by the Christian Church in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist: Particularly the Ancient, viz. the Clementine, as it stands in the Book call'd The Apostolical Constitutions; the Liturgies of S. James, S. Mark, S. Chrysostom, S. Basil, &c. Translated into English by several hands. With a dissertation upon them, Shewing their Usefulness and Authority, and pointing out their several Corruptions and Interpolations. By Thomas Brett, LL.D. London: printed for Richard King, at the Prince's Arms in S. Paul's Church-Yard, 1720. ESTC No. T116090. Grub Street ID 167774.
  • Drelincourt, Charles. The christian's defence against the fears of death: with directions how to dye well. Written originally in French, by Charles Drelincourt. Abridg'd from the last French edition, by J. Spavan, M.A. With an account of Mrs. Veal's apparition to Mrs. Bargrave. London: printed for Richard King, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard, M.DCC.XX. [1720]. ESTC No. T132165. Grub Street ID 181110.
  • The Advocate. Or a vindication of the Christian religion. London [England]: printed by John Applebee, for Richard King, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard; and sold by W. Boreham, at the Angel, in Pater-Noster-Row, [1720]-. ESTC No. P2997. Grub Street ID 56441.
  • Brett, Thomas. A vindication of the postscript to a book, called, The necessary use of tradition to understand the Holy Scriptures: in answer to a book, entitled, No just grounds for introducing the new Communion office, &c. By Thomas Brett, LL.D. London: printed for Rich. King, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard, M.DCC.XX. [1720]. ESTC No. T50875. Grub Street ID 278414.
  • Smith, Joseph. The unreasonableness of deism, or the certainty of a divine revelation, evinc'd from the dictates of reason in general, and the evidence of our holy Christian faith in particular. With some reflections on our modern pretenders to free-thinking. Also modern pleas for anarchy and rebellion, review'd; Or a particular Examination of the Senses of St. Peter and St. Paul, concerning the Measures of Submission to the Civil Power. By Joseph Smith. London: printed for Richard King at the Princes Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1720. ESTC No. T98924. Grub Street ID 318120.
  • Wagstaffe, Thomas. The reasonableness and necessity of some practices of the reformation of the Church of England, defended; against the objections of the no-just grounds, &c. The Vindication of the No-Necessity, &c. And the Principles of the Popish Schoolmen. By the author of The necessity of an alteration, &c. London: printed for Richard King, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1720. ESTC No. T91431. Grub Street ID 311274.
  • Grabe, Joannes Ernestus. De forma consecrationis eucharistiæ, &c. Or, a defence of the Greek church, against the Roman, in the article of the consecration of the eucharistical elements, written in Latin, by the late learned Dr. I. E. Grabe; And now first published, together with a Translation, for the Benefit of the English Readers. To which are added Some Papers concerning the Oblation of the Body and Blood of Christ, the Form and Effect of the Eucharistical Consecration, and two Fragments of a designed Preface to a new Edition of K. Edward the Vith's first Liturgy: All written by the same Author. With a Preface by the Editor, shewing the Opinion of the Church of England concerning the Use of the Fathers, and the Sense of many of her greatest Members concerning the Points contended for by the Author of this Treatise. London: printed for Richard King, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard, MDCCXXI. [1721]. ESTC No. T92506. Grub Street ID 312294.
  • Ramkins, Alexander. The life and strange surprising adventures of Majr. Alexander Ramkins an Highland-officer, now in prison at Avignon. Being an account of several remarkable adventures during about twenty eight years service in Scotland, Germany, Italy, Flanders and Ireland, from the battle of Gillycranky fought between two Highland generals the Lord Viscount Dundee and Mackay; to the death of K. James II. Being a very agreeable and instructive lesson of human life, both in a publick and private capacity, in several pleasant instances of his amours, gallantry, oeconomy, &c. Together with the promise the late French King made to K. James on his death-bed. London: printed for R. King, at the Prince’s Arms in St. Paul’s Church-Yard; and F. Jeffries, at the Bible in Ludgate-street, M DCC XXII. [1722]. ESTC No. N498484. Grub Street ID 359288.
  • Haywood, Eliza. The agreeable Caledonian: or, memoirs of Signiora di Morella, a Roman lady, who made her escape from a monastery at Viterbo, for the love of a Scots nobleman. Intermix'd with many other entertaining little histories and Adventures which presented themselves to her in the Course of her Travels. London: printed for Richard King, at the Prince's-Arms in St. Paul's Churchyard: and sold by W. Meadows, at the Angel in Cornhill; T. Green, near Charing-Cross; John Stone, against Bedford-Row, near Grays-Inn; J. Jackson, in Pallmall, next St. James's; and J. Watson, over-against Hungerford-Market, in the Strand, MDCCXXVIII. [1728]. ESTC No. N2180. Grub Street ID 11155.
  • Wilson, Charles. The life of Themistocles, extracted from Plutarch, Nepos, &c. With some observations on that tragedy. In a letter to a friend. London: printed for R. King, at the Prince's-Arms, in St. Paul's Church-Yard, MDCCXXIX. [1729]. ESTC No. N12295. Grub Street ID 2305.
  • Haywood, Eliza. The agreeable Caledonian: or, memoirs of Signiora di Morella, a Roman lady. Who made her escape from a monastery at Viterbo, for the love of a Scots nobleman. Intermix'd with many other entertaining histories ... Part II. London: Printed for R. King, at the Prince’s-Arms in St. Paul’s Church-Yard; and sold by G. Strahan and W. Meadows, in Cornhill; T. Green, near Charing-Cross; J. Stone, near Gray’s-Inn; J. Jackson, in Pallmall; and J. Watson, over-against Hungerford-Market, in the Strand, M.DCC.XXIX. [1729]. ESTC No. N29532. Grub Street ID 18660.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by Richard King

  • Henley, John. An introduction to an English grammar; Containing I. A compendious way to master any Language in the World. II. A particular Account of those Eastern and Northern Tongues, Grammars of which are not publish'd in the Collection to which this Attempt belongs, viz. the Ethlopic, Coptic, Persic, Samaritan, Armenian, Turkish, Chinese, Damulian or Malabaric, Malayan, Indian: And the Selavonic, Teutonic, Hibernian, British, Gothic, Runic, Islandic Tongues. III. A Dissertation on the Saxon. IV. A Grammar of it. Being number X. of the Complete linguist; or universal grammar. By J. Henley, M.A. London: printed, and sold by J. Roberts, at the Oxford Arms in Warwick Lane; J. Woodman, in Russel-Street, Covent-Garden; J. Stone, near Bedford-Row, Gray's-Inn; and R. King, at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church-Yard, MDCCXXVI. [1726]. ESTC No. T114955. Grub Street ID 166730.